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Bill

HD 3559

An Act concerning the safety of autistic and alzheimer individuals

194th Legislature (2025-2026) Introduced by Colleen Garry

Establishes safety protocols and emergency response coordination for missing autistic and Alzheimer's individuals to reduce response times and improve outcomes.

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Bill Summary · HD 3559

Legislative bill overview

HD 3559 proposes measures to enhance safety protections for individuals with autism and Alzheimer's disease in Massachusetts. The bill establishes protocols and resources to help locate missing persons with these conditions and coordinates emergency response efforts across state agencies and law enforcement.

Why is this important

Autistic individuals and those with Alzheimer's disease experience disproportionately high rates of wandering, elopement, and getting lost, which can result in injury, exploitation, or death. Establishing coordinated safety protocols and training requirements for first responders can significantly reduce response times and improve outcomes for vulnerable populations and their families.

Potential points of contention

  • Resource allocation and funding: Implementation requires training first responders, creating tracking systems, and coordinating across multiple agencies, raising questions about budget requirements and whether existing resources are sufficient
  • Privacy and surveillance concerns: Provisions involving location tracking, personal information databases, or monitoring systems may trigger privacy debates about data collection and storage of sensitive health information
  • Definitional scope: The bill's specific eligibility criteria and whether it adequately addresses the diversity of autism presentations and Alzheimer's stages without over-inclusion or under-inclusion of affected individuals

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

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